“With us getting a lot of losses on the road it’s just been on our minds going into some games that it’s going to be tougher, which it is. ... So just to finally get some confidence and know that we can finish a game and win a game on the road was good.”

Utah forward Jordan Loveridge

LOS ANGELES — So much for time to celebrate. Less than 48 hours after a 79-71 win at USC, the Utah Utes take on UCLA at historic Pauley Pavilion. They do so on the heels of snapping an 11-game skid on opposing teams' home floors, a slide that went on for more than a year and included 10 Pac-12 contests.

After Friday’s practice at UCLA, Utah forward Jordan Loveridge noted that it felt real good to get a breakthrough win.

“With us getting a lot of losses on the road it’s just been on our minds going into some games that it’s going to be tougher, which it is,” he said. “ ... So just to finally get some confidence and know that we can finish a game and win a game on the road was good.”

Although they nearly let a 17-point lead slip away in the second half at USC, the Utes never let the Trojans ever get within a single possession of tying it up down the stretch. Loveridge thwarted a final threat by nailing a 3-pointer with 1:32 remaining to put the game out of reach at 76-68.

“We knew we had a 17-point lead and they came back. We knew we just had to kind of weather the storm and just keep going,” Loveridge said. “We just had to hit a couple of shots and fortunately I hit a big shot and we hit some free throws down the stretch and we were grateful that we got the win.”

USC jumped out to an early 21-14 advantage before Utah stormed back and took the lead for good. Delon Wright led the Utes with 20 points, while Loveridge finished with 19. Dakarai Tucker and Dallin Bachynski each added 13.

Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak chalked up the sluggish start to the guys not playing hard enough. He told the team so during a timeout, sparking the decisive response.

“We’ve got to come with more energy on the road,” said Loveridge, who acknowledged that things turned their way once they did.

Now that they have a successful taste for it, Krystkowiak is hopeful it’s something his players can kind of put in a bottle and use on the road. He referred to it as the positive medicine of a win.

The victory over the Trojans was the Utes’ sixth Pac-12 triumph of the season — the most since joining the conference in 2011-12.

“It feels great,” Krystkowiak said of putting the lengthy road woes to rest.

Popular Comments

Epsn just showed Arizonas remaining schedule and percent chance of winning each
game

Their lowest of the rest of the season?

48% at Utah.

Espn says Utah is favored to beat Arizona

I love this
team and our

11:08 p.m. Feb. 14, 2014

Top comment

thebigsamoan

Richmond, VA

The Utes got a huge injection of badly needed confidence to win on the road
after their last victory at USC. That monkey is now off their back so I'm
sure the Bruins are in for a battle! Despite their much maligned start of season
OOC schedule,
More..

6:46 a.m. Feb. 15, 2014

Top comment

Chris B

Salt Lake City, UT

Byu fans are flocking to news about ute basketball, since we are the only team
alive for at large berth in the big dance.